EP1 Travelers

It was an hour later when the soldiers from Guangling Zhixi found them.

It wasn't that these soldiers were inefficient at marching, but rather that, compared to VIPs, they were unable to withstand the spiritual pressure of the special environment. The closer they got to the unknown TD area, the slower the search and rescue team moved.

Nearly half of the soldiers experienced allergic stress during the journey, and further on, they were likely to develop Vita Imprint. According to the accompanying surveyors, many of their comrades experienced severe discomfort when they approached the railway within four kilometers of Haofeng Ridge.

They experience vomiting, dizziness, auditory hallucinations, itchy skin, extreme cold or heat, and voluntarily remove their armor. They are unable to control their emotions, experiencing feelings of ecstasy or extreme sadness within a short period of time.

Every time he comes to the area around TD, the group leader, Isoragi Youkei, has to experience the spiritual pressure of his hometown.

The Hunter King is his elder, and Aunt Chika was already a remarkable passenger when he was very, very young.

The fact that Igarashi's family comes from Shinto City is very important to Youkei.

Because people may not know where they are going, but they can still bravely take steps forward.

--But we cannot be ignorant of where we come from. Because history is materialistic, objectively existing, it is the warm blood flowing in everyone's veins, an indelible mark branded on everyone.

The commander of the assault team personally brought the nameless heroes back, remaining silent the entire way—a rule for the assault team.

After completing the initial exploration, the VIP are more or less exhausted in terms of mental energy. Unless they take the initiative to speak, no one is allowed to ask them about matters related to the unknown plots of land.

When we engage in mental activities, we sometimes experience moments of extreme exhaustion. We don't even have the strength to speak, and hearing even a slightly loud sound can cause our eyes to swell and our heart and lungs to ache.

For VIPs, the journey involves repeatedly teetering on the edge of life and death, battling unknown underground cities, and fighting against calamity beasts or Vita Imprint. At the end of the journey, physical injuries may be healed with Universal Elixir, but without a magical item like the [Guangling San · Guangling Zhixi] steamed bun, their weakened spirits will take a long time to recover.

The train from the front-line outpost can now travel another 1,700 meters towards the TD section—this is the message that Xue Ming, and Luo Ping'an brought back.

For the soldiers who Guangling Zhixi, the safe range of movement was only 1,700 meters.

"It seems pointless," said communications Marco, somewhat dejected upon hearing the news. The young soldier had higher expectations of his idol; in his mind, the General of Tears should be even more formidable.

Isoragi Youkei is still doing command and dispatch work on the platform. The front-line base needs to be pushed outward along this 1,700-meter stretch, otherwise it won't be called the "front line". Next, we need to accommodate staff related to geological exploration, water conservancy and transportation, mineral research institutes and radioactive elements. We need to set up temporary work stations and renovate the network base stations and water and electricity cabling within a 1,000-meter range.

Hearing Marco say this--

--Youkei was a little angry, but the commander did not immediately lash out. He finished all the work at hand, sent the three nameless soldiers onto the return train, took the medical reports of the three VIPs from the train window, confirmed with the medical staff that there were no signs of Spirit Calamity overflow, and tidied up all the miscellaneous matters.

Commander Youkei returned to the communications conference room and called everyone else out, leaving only Marco behind.

"Communications Marco!"

Upon hearing the commander's stern command, Marco immediately stood at attention and replied, "Present!"

Youkei remained expressionless, her tone serious but her eyes gentle. She didn't continue speaking, waiting quietly.

--In the pitch-black underground cavity, with no natural light source, the frontline outpost seemed to be the only source of light.

The electric light illuminated the topographical map behind Youkei, as well as the insignia of the Frost Moon Knights on the wall.

Marco's tension gradually dissipated with time, and he finally Matsushita. He didn't know what the commander would ask or say, but he was prepared.

Youkei asked in English, "I just heard you whispering about the anonymous person."

Marco: "No!"

Youkei: "So, did I hear wrong? Is it because of the spiritual pressure that I'm hallucinating?"

Marco: "No."

Youkei: "We don't speak the same language? You and I aren't the same race, we're from different countries, Marco, do you speak Japanese?"

Marco: "A little bit."

Youkei poured the messenger a full pot of black coffee and switched to Japanese, saying, "I hate English, kid."

He handed the water bottle to the boy, telling him to hold it tight, and then solemnly patted Marco's hand.

"One word root, one sentence structure, and so many different meanings—it's so troublesome!"

Marco replied in Japanese, "Sir, that's very convenient."

Youkei shook her head, looking sullen and downcast.

"It's inconvenient and troublesome, like when I ask you if you're secretly gossiping about someone named Anonymous—and you say no."

So I asked, "Am I hallucinating?"

"But you say 'no'—if I haven't been hallucinating, and you haven't been talking about the anonymous person, then why are your statements contradictory and ambiguous?"

Marco finally confessed to the captain, who used a series of honorifics, speaking with a respectful yet sarcastic tone.

"I just feel like..."

"Something doesn't seem right. Something's not right."

"It's very subtle, it really is subtle."

Youkei immediately frowned, "Oh, it means something subtle."

Marco laughed awkwardly, "It's just... subtle."

Youkei waved her hand, indicating, "Then please speak frankly. If there's anything amiss, perhaps I can give you an answer."

Marco immediately tensed up. "Can this be discussed openly? Won't it affect morale?"

Youkei succinctly stated. "Morale that can be swayed by a few words is not morale, it's superstition."

Marco then began to explain his inner thoughts.

"Commander, I thought the outcome would be better."

"The nameless people were invincible in their campaign against the Madness Butterfly; they brought news of victory and were experts at dealing with tough opponents. But this time..."

Marco's voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible.

"To be honest, I'm a little disappointed that we couldn't even take back a single city this time."

"I'm about the same as the General of Tears."

Commander Youkei interrupted, "The voice is too soft. I can't hear you."

Marco immediately spoke loudly, seemingly gaining more courage.

"I'm about the same age as General of Tears! He's my idol! Although this is the first time we've met, I've already imagined countless times what it would be like to fight alongside him."

"So I think it shouldn't be like this, at least it shouldn't be 1,700 meters."

"The wasteland we brought back only contains stones. What's the point of walking 1,700 meters further?"

"So... I..."

Youkei interrupted, "Is that all you wanted to say?"

Marco nodded, not daring to speak.

Youkei: "Why do you look so guilty?"

"Because...because I feel I shouldn't have said these things," Marco Laifu explained. "But I don't know how to deal with the emotions in my mind; they won't just disappear. It's better to say them out loud."

After explaining, Marco quickly pressed for more information.

"Commander, what are you thinking? Are we going to stay here for a very, very long time?"

"I greatly admire anonymous people, especially the General of Tears. He was my age, and every time I think about him, a strange power wells up from the bottom of my heart—if he could do it, I should be able to do it too."

"But this time, things seem different from what I expected."

"Turns out they weren't as powerful as I thought, they weren't superheroes."

"I'm done speaking, Commander."

"So, Commander, what's your take on this?"

Isoragi Youkei crossed her arms, her face visibly flushed, and her sharp, angular features were squeezed together.

"How do you see it? Do you think this 1,700 meters is something insignificant? How do I see it? From a business perspective or from a personal grudge perspective? Which one do you want to hear?"

Marco Laifu said, "Let's talk about personal matters first."

"Are you out of your mind?" Isoragi Youkei started cursing in Chinese, because Chinese is really convenient for cursing. "You're such a stupid idiot! How long have you been in the raid team and you're still acting like this! If you don't like being here, you can go to the Nine Realms and have the BOSS give you a brain surgery to see how much shit is in your skull. Didn't your mother consider garbage sorting and environmental protection when she gave birth to you? Otherwise, how could she have given birth to a piece of trash like you? Did they choose a high-difficulty gymnastic move like the Thomas Flair when they were making love? Otherwise, how could they have shaken your brain, the brain of this fertilized egg, evenly?"

"Stop cursing! Stop cursing, Commander!" Marco pleaded repeatedly, "Stop cursing, it's too harsh."

"You stay at the front-line outpost, eating beef and drinking coffee to maintain peak combat readiness." Isoragi Youkei pointed outside, her eyes practically bulging out of their sockets. "VIPs go to Shinto City, eating canned rations and fighting to the death against the enemy—"

"--They finally came back alive, and you, you bastard, have to whine like a woman."

"Oh!~ Commander!~"

Youkei winked and made faces in a high-pitched voice.

"I'm so disappointed. We only made it 1,700 meters this time. General of Tears is my age, he's my idol! How could he let me down! I'm injured!"

Marco felt so ashamed he wanted to dig his toes into the floor.

Youkei gently patted Marco's face--

"--You shame me, communications officer. I'm deeply disappointed in myself. You're such a weak and immature soldier, whom I trained. This is the personal matter I want to discuss with you. Do you want to hear about official business?"

Marco pursed his lips and nodded.

Youkei: "Have you seen all the information the nameless man obtained this time, the logbook he brought back, and the video and audio materials?"

Marco: "There are some materials classified as beta or higher. I only have a general understanding of them, but I know the ins and outs of the matter."

Youkei: "That's how Fen Feng died."

Marco didn't quite understand the commander's implied meaning.

"What's the meaning?"

Youkei explained patiently, word by word—

"I said, the Fēngfēng Battle Group and their leader died because of your inner weakness."

"The boss repeatedly told us two things."

"One thing is a pity—there is no God in the world."

"One thing is terrible—there are devils in the world."

"Just now, you were possessed by the devil. It wove beautiful illusions to deceive you, making you believe that you could entrust everything to the Nameless One to solve. So the Nameless One transformed into the devil's appearance—devils are all very alluring."

"But when the illusion shatters, how absurd it is that you attack your comrades and blame the VIPs who risked their lives to pave the way for you."

"Modern society is full of such terrifying stories: children blame the parents who are the best to them in their lives, yet they can open their hearts to strangers; parents don't listen to their children and hand over all their assets to health product and pharmaceutical companies—they are probably all bewitched by the devil."

"That's why I said, Fen Feng probably died in the same way."

Youkei spoke earnestly, his rough hands gripping Marco's chin, holding the boy's face tightly.

Your physical body may be weak, but your mind must not falter.

"This is your most important thing, Marco— "

"--The boss is absolutely right, this is the most important thing for us."

"The Shinto City can create Homo sapiens, but it cannot create thought and soul."

"Because the mind is impervious to swords and the soul is indestructible, never forget it, even if you cannot see it or feel it."

"It is constantly shaping you; it becomes hideous, and you become hideous; it becomes fearless and courageous, and you become fearless and courageous."

The train headed back towards the Nine Realms, with Xue Ming and Liu Xing lying on either side of the carriage. They could see the scenery outside the window just by turning over.

The closer you get to Nine Realms Station, the more lights appear in the fields near the railway.

At first, there were just a few scattered tents, but later they grew into a small settlement of several hundred people.

A Xing didn't understand, so he went to ask Ming Ge.

"It didn't seem this lively when I set off. Where did all these travelers come from?"

Jiang Xueming replied, "One group consists of scavengers, and the other group consists of mine owners who come with the scavengers to try and make a fortune."

A Xing: "Why didn't they come before?"

Jiang Xueming: "For ordinary people, unknown plots of land are dangerous places fraught with peril. It was only because the BOSS received our message and turned it into news that people from other sites would actively come to this desolate old site to search for wealth."

Bu Liuxing: "That's great!"

Jiang Xueming: "How was the trip?"

Bu Liuxing: "I had a blast fighting, but my mind is all foggy, like I just went for a spin in a haunted house at an amusement park. I don't understand anything, and then the staff brought me out."

Jiang Xueming: "That's the same feeling I have."

Bu Liuxing: "Ming Ge, can we take over Shinto City?"

Jiang Xueming: "This is 378,000 square kilometers. Brother Ping An said that Shinto City has more than 300 cities, counties, and towns. This place cannot be explored in a few months or even a few years. At least not now."

Bu Liuxing: "Is this a permanent event? The boss will be very happy, right?"

Jiang Xueming: "Very happy?"

Bu Liuxing: "Yes, new passengers have arrived. They are about to transform themselves, and perhaps the Shinto City is a good choice."

Jiang Xueming pondered this sentence carefully.

--The Madness Butterfly Sect is practically a protected species now, so getting travelers in their metamorphosis stage to acquire Soul Might superpowers is no easy task. Unlike other primitive and wild unknown lands, highly civilized places like Shinto City, with its modern industrial base and abundant electrolyte energy for replenishment, are indeed excellent training grounds for bosses.

Based on the properties of pyrostone, the Red Stone People in the Underworld are the most numerous among the psionic population. These cheerful, brave, and enthusiastic goofballs going to Shinto City is like a mischievous kid entering a cyberpunk theme park; they're sure to gain something.

"Sometimes I can't keep up with your train of thought," Jiang Xueming said with a smile. "Very brilliant ideas."

"Of course! I'm a genius!" Bu Liuxing put his hands behind his head and looked out the window, then asked, "Ming Ge, I saw the Guangling Zhixi's armed train heading to the front line. Isn't Shuangyue's regiment enough?"

Jiang Xueming: "The engineering corps can handle some basic construction, but for geological and transportation work, we'll have to ask other helpers."

Bu Liuxing: "They'll be staying on the front lines for a long time, won't they?"

Land-related projects can take anywhere from a few years to more than a decade. For example, the construction of an underground railway can last for decades, and many railway workers dedicate their entire lives to a single line.

Jiang Xueming: "Yes."

Bu Liuxing: "I really admire them. They can stick to one place for so many years. They are truly amazing heroes."

"It's all the same," Jiang Xueming replied matter-of-factly. "In their eyes, we travelers who venture into unknown territories, VIPs roaming the underworld—are all incredibly audacious."

"Hahahahaha!" Meteor laughed heartily, a laugh that could dispel all gloom.

After a while, Meteor asked about something else.

"Ming Ge, the BOSS seems to have asked you many, many times. It wanted to perform a blood-offering ritual for you, to make you stronger, and to make you live longer—why did you refuse?"

When the Little Kitty first talked to Jiang Xueming about this, it was to ask Xue Ming to extend his lifespan by working part-time as a Lapis Lazuli Guards. In Ming De's eyes, Jiang Xueming's card had too short a shelf life and needed a little help.

But Xue Ming did not agree.

The reason is simple: if he lives to be two or three hundred years old, what about his wife and children? What about his wife's friends and his children's friends?

These families will become new Madness Butterfly; White Stone should be white, and corundum should be transparent, without the slightest impurity.

But the Little Kitty wouldn't give up. It used all sorts of sneaky tactics, begging and pleading, just like renewing its NetEase Cloud Music membership, to try and get Jiang Xueming to renew her subscription. But that's another story.

Jiang Xueming answered the question about the shooting star with a wry smile.

"If I keep living, how will my children live?"

"I'm terrified, "Bu Liuxing said.

"That's right! If little Zhengyang lives his whole life in his father's shadow, I think the kid's thinking will definitely go wrong!"

Jiang Xueming: "Isn't it a bit inappropriate for you to speak ill of me, your father, right in front of me?"

Bu Liuxing suggested, "Then next time I'll talk about you behind your back? I'll be more discreet?"

"No, thank you," Jiang Xueming laughed heartily. "Spare me."

Bu Liuxing laughed so hard he almost choked, and the old, lingering injuries on his right arm began to throb.

Hahahaha!

Jiang Xueming laughed along with her, feeling that the leisurely time on the train was so wonderful.

"Hahahahahahahaha! Hahahahahahahaha!"

Bu Liuxing laughed for a while, then slowly became depressed.

So Jiang Xueming asked, "Let me guess, you must have thought of Hot Wind."

It wasn't surprising that Ming Ge Bu Liuxing him; aside from Teacher San San, Ming Ge was practically the person who understood him best: "Perhaps I'm bewitched by a ghost—"

"--I was wondering if, a long time ago, Hot Wind and his friends were this happy too."

"They can fight and bleed, and when they're injured, they can lie in a train carriage chatting and joking about their wives and children."

"Life is not complicated, and philosophy is not incomprehensible."

"I clearly don't know them, I clearly didn't really live in that era, it's as if these ghosts possessed me and took me back to the past."

Jiang Xueming reached out his hand. "Hold my hand tight, brother. Don't think too much, we have plenty of time to be ourselves."

"Oh yeah! And FE204863! That guy's way more interesting than you! I'll tell you about him later!" Meteor reached out, wanting to shake Ming Ge.

At this moment, Xue Ming withdrew his arm, withdrawing the symbol of their friendship.

--Because 3301 arrived Teacher San San with a fruit platter, just in time, like an old joke that you could play a million times and never get tired of.

The half-wolf girl pointed and gestured, her mouth twisted to one side in a strange smile, while she muttered curses under her breath.

"A married man! A married man! Tsk tsk tsk! Tsk tsk tsk!"

But the next second, a joke struck her so hard that she was completely stunned.

Because the shooting star raised his arm, clenched his fist, and said to his lover.

"Yes! I'm going to be a married man too!"